Improvement in raking and binding attachments to reapers



.M. D. HIGLEY & D. LLCOLUMBIA.

Automatic Raking and Binding Attachment for Harvesting Machines. n0."57,714. Patented Sept. 4, 1866.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. D. HiGLEY & D. L. COLUMBIA.

Automatic Raking and Binding Attachment for Harvgsting Machines.

No. 57,714. Patented Sept. 4, 1866-,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL D. HIGLEY AND DANA L. COLUMBIA, OF MORRISON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BAKING AND BINDING ATTACHMENTS T0 REAIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent lib-57,714, dated September 4, 1866.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that we, MARSHALL D. HIG- LE? and DANA L. COLUMBIA, of Morrison, in-

the county of Whitesides and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Raking and Binding Attachments to Harvesting-Machines; and we do hereby declare that the ,following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the s-ame, reference being bad to the an- 'nexed drawings, made part of this specifica- I section of the same. Fig. 7 is an elevatioh as seen from above the platform, the shield being removed. Fig. Sis an enlarged elevation of parts of the mechanism from the same point asin -Fig; 7. Fig. 9 is atop viewot' the pinch'ers. Fig. 10 is a top view oi the twist head. Fig. 11 is another view of the same. Fig. 12 is a sect-ion of'the same, and Fig. 13 is a section showing the connection of the twisthead.

In the several figures the same letters indicate identical parts.

In theca's illustrated in this application the binding apparatus is represented as placed on the platform of a reaping-machine extended immediately behind the main frame. This we regard as the most convenient location, but do not restrict our claims to this position, though in this specification we shall refer to the various parts in reference to this position. A is the platform of a reaping-machine, which is extended in rear of the main frame, and so adjusted as to receive the raking and binding apparatus, which is supported iii rear of the main frame and driving mechanism,

Motion is communicated to the raking and binding attachments from a bevel-wheel on the main axle of the reaper by a tumbling-shaft of ordinary arrangement to the driving-shaft B, which is attached by suitable boxes to the frame of the platform.

Near the rear end of the shaft B are the two three-sided eccentrics D and E. These eccentrics are duplicates. They are equilateral curvilinear -triangles, used to receive the shaft "B, to which they are keyed near one of the angles, and are set on the shaft at dili'erent angles, so as, respectively, to communicate the motion'to their rods, that will be hereafter dcscribed.

The eccentrics'are set in square straps, working in central internal grooves. W To the strap of eccentric E is attached the connecting-rod G, the upper end of which is attached by a pivet to the arm of the bell-crankG, which is attashed by a pivot, G at its elbow to the post A}. On theopposite arm of the bell'erank G is the stud G, on the wrist of which is set the slot in the curved arm of the rake-arm H, which slides freely on said wrist.

To the strap of eccentric I) is attached the rod D which is pivoted to the lever 1) near the base of the latter; The bent lever D is pivoted to the post A at its base, and, extending upward after receiving the rod D, it is rigidly attached to the crank I), the axle of which passes through the rake-arm H near the end of the siot. To the wrist-pin of the crank D is pivoted the end of the parallel rod H The raketeeth H are securely fastened to the wrists II, set in eyes in the bifurcated extremity of the rake-arm H, in which they turn with the movement of the rake. The parallel rod H likewise bifurcated, is adjustably attached to levers H attached to the wrists H, so that the rake-teeth H shall, by the action of the rake-arm H and the parallel rod B, through all parts of their movement, maintain a perpendicular or nearly a perpendicular position.

The eccentrics are so set that when the rakearm H isextended to the standing-grain end of the platform, the red I) shall be fully projected and the rod G and bell-crank G drawn down to their lowestposition. With the revolution of the shaft B, as the rake-arm- His drawn back by the lever D the rod. G is raised, and with it the bell-crank G until the arm carrying the stud-pin G2 is nearly vertical. The relation of the eccentric E'and its yoke is now such that little or no motionis communicated to the bell-crank until the gavel has been drawn into the binder, when the crank is rapidly drawn down and the rake-arm projected, when it again remains stationary until the process of retraction commences.

The binding apparatus receives motion from the bevel-wheel I, which is keyed to the driving-shaft B. The frame F is attached to the said, shaft by boxes, within which "suitable journals turn freely, and also to the frame of the platform by the brace F.

The bevel-wheel I has within the circle formed by its teeth a raised trees, 1 having at two points depressions, the relative positwist-head L is constructed in two pieces, L and. L of which the'piece L is so constructed as to turn upon a pivot on a face perpendicular'to the axisof revolution, so, as to open the twist-head for the reception of a wire, as will be hereinafter explained.

The jaws of the twist-head are opened by the action of the wire, and are closed by the clutches N N. The clutches embrace the twisthead on each side, so as to compress the jaws,

which have a rib' and corresponding depression on their o posed faces, as shown in F) g. 12, so as to bind and consequently more firmly to retain the inclosed wire. They are actuated automatically by the levers N which are pivotedon the frame F, and have on their lower ends friction wheels N running 'on the tracks I ,-with which they are kept in contact by the tension of the spiral spring 0, which unites their lower arms. The tracks 1 keep the clutches closed until the wheels N reach the depressions 1 when, the lower arms being drawn together, the clutches are withdrawn and the jaws L and L are permitted to open. As there are two depressions F, this will occur twice during each revolution of the wheel I-- once to permit the wire to enter the jaws, and again for the discharge of the sheaf. As a longer-interval is required between the time when the wire is received and the discharge of the sheaf than between the latter and the former, the depressions 1 are not placed opfpojsiie to one another, but properlyportioned the face of the wheel I. within the track 1 against which it is pressedby the spring P, The pinchers will open when the friction-wheel M reaches the depression described in the face of the wheel I at 1 and close again on rising out of the depression. This depression is so placed that the pinchers will open an instant after the jaws in the twist-head have opened torecerve the wire, and, closing again immediately, they. seize the wire, and at the same time cutting it above the pinchers by the action of the shear-plate, (shown in Fig. 9,) attached to the movable jaw M O is an eccentric, the peculiar shape of which :is shown in Fig. 14, the peculiarity in the construction of which is, that it is so shaped that between the points a b it is formed as a circle, of which the center of the driving-shaft B is the center, the eii'ectv of which is, that while the cam is traversing that distance in the yoke opposite to the point of attachment no vertically-moiprocating motion is communicated to the rod 0''. As the yoke is. square, the reduced diameter on the side a I) must be added on the opposite side 0 d, to prevent the cam escaping from the yoke. The rod O piv-. oted to the arm 0, communicates a reciprocating oscillation 130i3l16 counter-shaft T, to which is-rigidly attached a semicircular binding-armfl. This arm has a notched termination, (shown in Fig. 7,) anda projecting arm,'T the extremity of which bears a small sheave over which passes-the wire, entering through an aperture above the sheave.

' The wire is wound upon a spool, S, and is hung upon a pin on the extremity of the standard S, immediately above the binding-arm and twist-head. The wire passes from the spool through the orifice and over the sheave in the. arm T and is held below by the pinchers. The revolution of the spool S is regulated by a set-screw, so as to preserve a proper degree of tension in thewire.

Q is a pulley on the shaft B, driving the linked belt Q which passes also over the pulley Q on the counter-shaft R, which revolves with each revolution of the shaft B, carrying with it the arm R, by which the sheaf 1881. the proper time thrown from the platform.

A and A are guards placed on each side to control the gavel as gathered by the rake. Between them is the shield or binding-seat U, over which the gavel passes, and on which it is held while the sheaf is being bound, resting upon the portion marked U. The piece U is riveted to the bottom of the shield U, below the slot through which the wire passes. It receives the wire and guides it unerringly to the twist-head, immediately above which it is.

attached, and to the pinchers. A slot through the shield permits the arm R to act upon the arm, I down to the pinchers,-where tlie ilzi s held. The binding-arm 'l descending, s e

and compresses the sheaf against thewire. T forked end of the arm coming in contact with both ends of the wire, forces them against the twist-head, which, opening at the instant, receives and seizes them between the jaws L and L and immediately afterward the pinchers open and close, severing the wire below the twist-head and retaining the ends. The revolution of the twist-head twists the two ends of the wire, securing it around the sheaf,

and then the jaws L U- open, and the arm B casts the sheaf from the platform and entirely outof the way of the horses on their next round. It will be observed that-the peculiar shape of the cam 0 holds the binding-arm T immovable over the twist-head during all the space of time-necessary for the completion of the operation of locking and cutting the wire.

Having fully explained the construction and operation of our improvements, what we claim as ourin'ventiomand seek to secure by Letters Patent, is-- or 1. In an automatic rake for a harvester, the combination of the eccentrics D and E,- conmeeting-rods G and D bell-crank G and oscillatin g rake-arm H, said parts being respect ively constructed substantially as described.

2. The oscillating rake-arm Hand parallel cnd' H adjustably attached to thelevers H when used in combination with the eccentric fl) and connecting-rod D substantially as set:

orth.

3 The wheel I, with the track I and depressions I and 1*,whenused for actuating the levers N and .M, respectively, .substantlally as and for the purpose set forth.

tio a 4. The twist-head L,when constructed intwo parts, L and'L the part L being arranged to turn on a pivot, the opposed faces of the aha being perpendicular to the axis of rotarzggthe said parts being constructed and arran bstantiallyas set forth.

5. In cmination with the twist-head L, the two elutc es N, attached to levers N N which have the fulcrums near the center, and are opened and closed by a spring, 0, and cam I, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the twist-head L, the nippers M and M one being fixed and the other movable, when they are respectively constructed, and the movable one. actuated, substantially as set forth.

, 7. In combination with a device for binding the sheaf, the revolving arm R, for throwing the sheaf from the platform, substantially as set forth. 7 i

'8. The earn 0, having a dead-point, a b, when used in combination with and for the purpose of giving motion to the binding-arm T substantially as set forth.

9. The shield U and guide U, when used in combination with an automatic binding mechanism, substantially as and for the .purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL D. HIGLEY. D. L. COLUMBIA. Witnesses as to Higley:

R. Mason, D. P. HOLLOWAY. Witnesses as to Columbia:

A. J. JACKSON, H. B. WILKINSON. 

